Royal New Zealand Air Force War Graves in Noord-Holland
Amsterdam, Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaats (New Eastern Cemetery)
In the Nieuwe Oosterbegraafplaats are 15 RNZAF war graves.
William Donald Francis Annan
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row A. Grave 19.
Sgt W.D.F. Annan - 391377
Son of Fredrick Andrew John Annan and of Annie Isabell Annan (nee MacRae), of Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
Son of Fredrick Andrew John Annan and of Annie Isabell Annan (nee MacRae), of Napier, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
William Harcourt Coleman, DFC
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row A. Grave 21.
F/O W.H. Coleman, DFC - 391860
Son of Mrs. C. M. Walton, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Son of Mrs. C. M. Walton, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
On 25th July, 1940, Wellington B.Ic R3235 of 75 (New Zealand) Squadron, RAF, had left her base at RAF Feltwell for a bombing mission to the marshaling yards at Kassel, Germany. The aircraft crashed into the Ijsselmeer, off Uitdam, near Amsterdam. There were no survivors. The bodies of the airmean washed ashore. All 6 crew members were buried here in the New Eastern Cemetery:
F/O William Harcourt Coleman, DFC, RNZAF
P/O Frank Twain Poole, RAF
Sgt Norman Wilson Brown, DFM, RAF
Sgt John Dowds, RAF
Sgt William Eric Nevill, RAF
Sgt William Donald Francis Annan, RNZAF
Note.
The body of F/O Coleman washed ashore on the 3rd of August, 1940.
F/O William Harcourt Coleman, DFC, RNZAF
P/O Frank Twain Poole, RAF
Sgt Norman Wilson Brown, DFM, RAF
Sgt John Dowds, RAF
Sgt William Eric Nevill, RAF
Sgt William Donald Francis Annan, RNZAF
Note.
The body of F/O Coleman washed ashore on the 3rd of August, 1940.
BCL, Vol.II, 1940, p.93
Kelvin Cholwill Billing
photo available shortly. Plot 1. Plot 69. Row E. Grave 12.
P/O K.C. Billing - 404256
Son of Henry Reginald Billing and of Adelaide Billing (nee Lewis), of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.
After take-off from RAF Scampton, at 23.10 hrs on the 1st June, 1942, nothing more was heard from the crew of Lancaster R5564/'OL-P' of 83 Squadron, RAF. It is thought, the aircraft was lost over the North Sea. Nearly two months later, the body of P/O Lelvin Cholwill Billing, RNZAF, was found on the seashore. He was buried in the New Eastern Cemetery on the 1st August, 1942. His fellow crew members have no known grave. Their names are on the Runnymede Memorial:
P/O Frank Rumsey Busby, RAF (Panel 68)
Sgt Leonard Frederick Smith, RAF (Panel 94)
Sgt Clifford Baines, RAF (Panel 77)
Sgt Joseph Dick Dodsworth, RAF (Panel 81)
Sgt William Anderson Hall, RAF (Panel 84)
Sgt Stanley Jack Ross-Hoff, RAF (Panel 92)
P/O Frank Rumsey Busby, RAF (Panel 68)
Sgt Leonard Frederick Smith, RAF (Panel 94)
Sgt Clifford Baines, RAF (Panel 77)
Sgt Joseph Dick Dodsworth, RAF (Panel 81)
Sgt William Anderson Hall, RAF (Panel 84)
Sgt Stanley Jack Ross-Hoff, RAF (Panel 92)
BCL, Vol.III, 1942, p.112
Noel Hensley Blair
photo available shortly. Plot 85. Row D. Grave 13.
Sgt N.H. Blair - 404994
Son of Charles and Clara Blair, of Stoke, Nelson, New Zealand.
Son of Charles and Clara Blair, of Stoke, Nelson, New Zealand.
Sgt Noel Hensley Blair, RNZAF, was the second pilot in the crew of Sgt Albert Ernest Holder, 115 Squadron. They had left RAF Marham at 22.57 hrs on the 12th April, 1942, for a bombing mission to Essen. Their aircraft, Wellington B.III, X3596/'KO-B', was attacked by a night fighter and crashed at 01.00 hrs in the morning of the 13th April into the Ijselmeer, some 3,5 kilometers West of Urk. The entire crew was killed and was buried here in Amsterdam:
Sgt Albert Ernest Holder, RAF
Sgt Noel Hensley Blair, RNZAF
P/O Ronald William Barlow, RAF
Sgt Kenneth John Raiswell, RAF
Sgt Thomas James Phillips, RAF
Sgt Thomas Ryan, RAF
Sgt Albert Ernest Holder, RAF
Sgt Noel Hensley Blair, RNZAF
P/O Ronald William Barlow, RAF
Sgt Kenneth John Raiswell, RAF
Sgt Thomas James Phillips, RAF
Sgt Thomas Ryan, RAF
BCL, Vol.III, 1942, p.66
Martin John Byrne
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row E. Grave 18.
F/S M.J. Byrne - 404529
Son of John and Florence Byrne, of Cambridge, Auckland, New Zealand.
Son of John and Florence Byrne, of Cambridge, Auckland, New Zealand.
John Edward Gilbertson
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row E. Grave 17.
F/S J.E. Gilbertson - 41894
Son of Ernest E. H. and Laurie I. Gilbertson, of Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
Son of Ernest E. H. and Laurie I. Gilbertson, of Waipawa, Hawke's Bay, New Zealand.
The night of 28/29 July, 1942, proved to be a disastrous one for 75 (New Zealand) Squadron. A force of 256 aircraft was despatched to the City of Hamburg. Of the 161 Wellingtons, 16 were lost, with six aircraft from 75 Squadron. In total the unit lost 25 airmen killed and another 6 taken prisoner. One of the Wellingtons that failed to return was F/S John Gilbertson's Wellington B.III, serial BJ661. The aircraft had left RAF Feltwell at around 23.00 hrs. After returning from Hamburg, BJ661/'AA-X', was intercepted by a night fighter. At 03.05 hrs in the early hours of the 29th, the bomber crashed into the Ijsselmeer. Two airmen survived the horrors: Sgt Ronald Patrick Callaghan, RNZAF, and Sgt Alan Walter Rutherford, RNZAF, were rescued and taken to the German seaplane base at Schellingwoude were they were made prisoner of war.
F/S John Edward Gilbertson, RNZAF, and F/S Martin John Byrne were buried here in the New Eastern Cemetery, whilst Sgt William Arthur Titcomb, RAF, who was washed ashore on the other side of the Ijsselmeer, was buried in Harderwijk General Cemetery.
Note.
A detailed account by Roy C. Nesbit of the last flight of John Gilbertson and his crew, was published in Aeroplane Monthly of December 1988. "Mission to Hamburg" was based on the information and recollections of one of the survivors Sgt Ron Callaghan. Ronald Callaghan survived the war and died in Gisborne in August 1986. Alan Rutherford was unwell at the time of the preparation of the article (in 1986) and was unable to correspond with Nesbit.
F/S John Edward Gilbertson, RNZAF, and F/S Martin John Byrne were buried here in the New Eastern Cemetery, whilst Sgt William Arthur Titcomb, RAF, who was washed ashore on the other side of the Ijsselmeer, was buried in Harderwijk General Cemetery.
Note.
A detailed account by Roy C. Nesbit of the last flight of John Gilbertson and his crew, was published in Aeroplane Monthly of December 1988. "Mission to Hamburg" was based on the information and recollections of one of the survivors Sgt Ron Callaghan. Ronald Callaghan survived the war and died in Gisborne in August 1986. Alan Rutherford was unwell at the time of the preparation of the article (in 1986) and was unable to correspond with Nesbit.
BCL, Vol.IV, 1943, p.165
Mission to Hamburg, by Roy C. Nesbit, in Aeroplane Monthly Dec. 1988, p.730-733
Mission to Hamburg, by Roy C. Nesbit, in Aeroplane Monthly Dec. 1988, p.730-733
Alan Murray Hobbs, DFC
photo available shortly. Plot 1. Plot 69. Row B. Coll. grave 15.
S/L A.M. Hobbs, DFC- 40230
Son of Alan Edgar and Greta Hobbs, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Son of Alan Edgar and Greta Hobbs, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
S/L Alan Murray Hobbs, DFC, RNZAF, was the captain of 9 Squadron Lancaster B.III ED831/'WS-H'. The Lancaster had left RAF Bardney at 22.30 hrs in the late evening of the 25th June, 1943, for a bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen in the Ruhrgebiet. On the return flight the bomber was intercepted and attacked by a night fighter. At 02.19 hrs in the morning of the 26th ED831 crashed into the Ijsselmeer off Hoorn. No one on board survived. The airmen were buried in four different Dutch cemeteries:
S/L Alan Murray Hobbs, DFC, RNZAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
F/O John Hamilton Sams, RAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
Sgt Fred William Sanderson, RAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
Sgt Kenneth George Mott, RAF: Schellinkhout Protestant Churchyard
Sgt Charles Parnell King, RAF: Harderwijk General Cemetery
Sgt Edwin Charles Bishop, RAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
Sgt Walter Clive Rowlands, RAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
F/S William Slater, RAF: Oudleusden General Cemetery (near Amersfoort)
Notes.
Sgt John Sams had only reported to the squadron that afternoon from 1660 Conversion Unit and this was his first flight.
The Lancaster was claimed by Hauptmann August Geiger of 7./NJG 1. This night he also claimed Stirling EF430/'HA-W' of 218 Squadron, fortunately with the complete crew surviving. Another victim this night was a Halifax B.II from 51 squadron (HR731/'MH-C') with the loss of all 7 crew.
A few months later Geiger met his own fate, when his aircraft, Messerschmitt Bf 110 Werknummer 5477, 'G9+ER' was shot down over the Ijsselmeer by W/C Bob Braham, 141 Squadron, on the 29th September, 1943.
S/L Alan Murray Hobbs, DFC, RNZAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
F/O John Hamilton Sams, RAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
Sgt Fred William Sanderson, RAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
Sgt Kenneth George Mott, RAF: Schellinkhout Protestant Churchyard
Sgt Charles Parnell King, RAF: Harderwijk General Cemetery
Sgt Edwin Charles Bishop, RAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
Sgt Walter Clive Rowlands, RAF: Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery
F/S William Slater, RAF: Oudleusden General Cemetery (near Amersfoort)
Notes.
Sgt John Sams had only reported to the squadron that afternoon from 1660 Conversion Unit and this was his first flight.
The Lancaster was claimed by Hauptmann August Geiger of 7./NJG 1. This night he also claimed Stirling EF430/'HA-W' of 218 Squadron, fortunately with the complete crew surviving. Another victim this night was a Halifax B.II from 51 squadron (HR731/'MH-C') with the loss of all 7 crew.
A few months later Geiger met his own fate, when his aircraft, Messerschmitt Bf 110 Werknummer 5477, 'G9+ER' was shot down over the Ijsselmeer by W/C Bob Braham, 141 Squadron, on the 29th September, 1943.
BCL, Vol.V, 1943, p.208
Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims 1939-1945, p.90
Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims 1939-1945, p.90
Owen Kenyon Jones
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 18.
F/O O. K. Jones - 40921
Son of Sidney Owen Jones and Imogen Jones, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. Husband of Vera Jones, of Takeley, Essex.
Son of Sidney Owen Jones and Imogen Jones, of New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand. Husband of Vera Jones, of Takeley, Essex.
Owen Kendrick Whyman
photo available shortly.Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 18.
F/S O. K. Whyman - 413294
Son of Cuthbert Sydney and Josephine Whyman, of Te Puke, Auckland, New Zealand.
Son of Cuthbert Sydney and Josephine Whyman, of Te Puke, Auckland, New Zealand.
On the 11th June, 1943, at 23.22 hrs, Lancaster B.III, DV157/'PH-Z', of 12 Squadron, RAF, took off from RAF Wickenby. For this night, the squadron had been detailed to attack Düsseldorf as part of a total force of 783 aircraft. No. 12 Squadron suffered severely with 5 aircraft. DV157 was one of them.
Over the target, the aircraft was badly damaged by flak, and while returning over the Netherlands it began to lose height rapidly. Near Amsterdam, F/L Alfred William Doel, RNZAF, on his 38th mission as a captain, ordered the crew to bail out as the bomber descended through 1500 ft amidst a hail of light flak from a German naval battery. However only the wireless operator, Sgt D. L. Templeman, RAF, got out, and he was taken prisoner. It was he who was able to tell of the demise of the aircraft. DV157 crashed at 02.50 hrs into the North Sea, West of the entry of Ijmuiden harbour. Two crew members were buried here in the Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery:
F/O Owen Kenyon Jones, RNZAF
F/S Owen Kendrick Whyman, RNZAF
Sgt William Biggs, RAF, was buried in Bergen General Cemetery and the other three crew, including the captain, F/L Doel, RNZAF, have no known resting place. They are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial:
F/L Alfred William Doel, RNZAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 197)
F/S Robert Durham, DFM, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 134)
Sgt Thomas Robert Pagett, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 161)
Over the target, the aircraft was badly damaged by flak, and while returning over the Netherlands it began to lose height rapidly. Near Amsterdam, F/L Alfred William Doel, RNZAF, on his 38th mission as a captain, ordered the crew to bail out as the bomber descended through 1500 ft amidst a hail of light flak from a German naval battery. However only the wireless operator, Sgt D. L. Templeman, RAF, got out, and he was taken prisoner. It was he who was able to tell of the demise of the aircraft. DV157 crashed at 02.50 hrs into the North Sea, West of the entry of Ijmuiden harbour. Two crew members were buried here in the Amsterdam New Eastern Cemetery:
F/O Owen Kenyon Jones, RNZAF
F/S Owen Kendrick Whyman, RNZAF
Sgt William Biggs, RAF, was buried in Bergen General Cemetery and the other three crew, including the captain, F/L Doel, RNZAF, have no known resting place. They are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial:
F/L Alfred William Doel, RNZAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 197)
F/S Robert Durham, DFM, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 134)
Sgt Thomas Robert Pagett, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 161)
BCL, Vol.V, 1943, p.175
Stuart McGowan
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 9.
F/O S. McGowan - 414996
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Cyril Richard Smith
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 9.
Sgt C. R. Smith - 415563
Son of Francis John Smith, and of Alice Maud Smith (nee Batchelor), of Miller's Flat, Otago, New Zealand.
Son of Francis John Smith, and of Alice Maud Smith (nee Batchelor), of Miller's Flat, Otago, New Zealand.
F/O Stuart McCowan, RNZAF, was the captain of Ventura I, AE780/'EG-S' of 487 (New Zealand) Squadron, RAF. On 3 May, 1943, the squadron had been detailed for 'Ramrod 16', the attack of the main electricity power station at Amsterdam. It proved to be a mission with severe losses for the proud New Zealand unit: Apart from one Ventura, that turned back early with technical difficulties, only F/L A.V. Duffill and crew in Ventura AE916 returned home safely to Methwold, although heavily damaged by fire from German fighters. Ten Venturas of 487 were lost with 27 airman killed, 13 crew were made prisoner of war, including 487's attack leader, S/L L.H. Trent. In F/O McGowan's crew, only Sgt I. F. Urlich, RNZAF, survived. He was made prisoner of war.
Ventura AE780 was sot down and crashed at 17.50 hrs in the North-western suburbs of Amsterdam.
F/O McGowan, together with F/O Ernest Garfield Thornber, RCAF, and Sgt Cyril Richard Smith, RNZAF, were buried here in the New Eastern Cemetery.
Note.
S/L Leonard Henry Trent was awarded the Victoria Cross for his outstanding courage in reaching his objective, the power station, despite fierce German opposition of both fighter aircraft and anti aircraft fire.
On the main access road to Nelson Airport is a memorial to Leonard Henry Trent, VC, DFC.
Ventura AE780 was sot down and crashed at 17.50 hrs in the North-western suburbs of Amsterdam.
F/O McGowan, together with F/O Ernest Garfield Thornber, RCAF, and Sgt Cyril Richard Smith, RNZAF, were buried here in the New Eastern Cemetery.
Note.
S/L Leonard Henry Trent was awarded the Victoria Cross for his outstanding courage in reaching his objective, the power station, despite fierce German opposition of both fighter aircraft and anti aircraft fire.
On the main access road to Nelson Airport is a memorial to Leonard Henry Trent, VC, DFC.
BCL, Vol.V, 1943, p.132
En Nooit was het Stil, Vol.1, p.504
En Nooit was het Stil, Vol.1, p.504
Stanley Bailey Peryman
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row C. Coll. grave 8.
F/O S. P. Peryman - 413469
Son of Edward Stanley Peryman and Rubi Beatrice Peryman, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
Son of Edward Stanley Peryman and Rubi Beatrice Peryman, of Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand.
F/O Stanley Bailey Peryman, RNZAF, and his crew had also been on the now infamous 'Ramrod 16' mission to Amsterdam. They had left RAF Methwold at 16.43 hrs on the 3rd May, 1943. Their aircraft, Ventura I, AE713/'EG-T' was shot down and crashed at 17.53 hrs not far from the Hembrug. There were no survivors. The crew were buried in the New Eastern Cemetery:
F/O Stanley Bailey Peryman, RNZAF
P/O Edward Trevor Williams, RAF
Sgt George Henry Southam, RAF
Sgt John Edward Addison, RAF
F/O Stanley Bailey Peryman, RNZAF
P/O Edward Trevor Williams, RAF
Sgt George Henry Southam, RAF
Sgt John Edward Addison, RAF
BCL, Vol.V, 1943, p.131
En Nooit was het Stil, Vol.1, p.504
En Nooit was het Stil, Vol.1, p.504
Lawrence George Porritt
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row B. Coll. grave 19.
F/S L. G. Porritt - 416016
Son of George Lupton Porritt and Linda Elizabeth Porritt, of Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand.
Son of George Lupton Porritt and Linda Elizabeth Porritt, of Avondale, Auckland, New Zealand.
On the 25th June, 1943, at 23.23 hrs, Lancaster B.III, ED988/'HW-J' of 100 Squadron, RAF, took off from RAF Waltham (RAF Grimsby) for a bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen in the German Ruhrgebiet. At 01.00 hrs, in the following morning, the Lancaster crashed near the Jisperweg at Beemster. There were no survivors. After approximately 3 hours, the bomb-lead of the Lancaster exploded with such ferocity, that only the bodies of navigator Sgt Ronald William Mepsted, RAF, and air gunners F/S Lawrence George Porritt, RNZAF, and Sgt Leonard Bennett, RAF, could be identified. The names of the other crew members are on the Runnymede Memorial:
F/S Leslie Jack Naile, RAAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 193)
Sgt Cyril Connah, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 145)
P/O Charles Pharaoh Reynolds, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 129)
Sgt John Dillon, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 147)
Note.
On the website www.defensie.nl the time of the crash is given as 00.54 hrs.
F/S Leslie Jack Naile, RAAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 193)
Sgt Cyril Connah, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 145)
P/O Charles Pharaoh Reynolds, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 129)
Sgt John Dillon, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 147)
Note.
On the website www.defensie.nl the time of the crash is given as 00.54 hrs.
BCL, Vol.V, 1943, p.209
William Rosser Perrott
photo available shortly. Plot 69. Row B. Coll. grave 15.
F/O W. R. Perrott - 416155
Son of William Rosser Perrott and Elizabeth Jane Perrott, of Auckland City, New Zealand
Son of William Rosser Perrott and Elizabeth Jane Perrott, of Auckland City, New Zealand
At 23.35 hrs, on the 25th June, 1943, Stirling III BK768/'AA-L' of 75 (New Zealand) Squadron left RAF Newmarket for a bombing mission to Gelsenkirchen, Germany. At some stage in the flight, the Stirling was attacked by a night fighter and crashed into the Ijsselmeer. The entire crew was killed. F/S Gordon Douglas Thomson, RNZAF, was found on the eastern shore of the Ijsselmeer and was buried in Harderwijk General Cemetery. Three other crew rest here in the New Eastern:
F/O William Rosser Perrott, RNZAF, and captain of the Stirling.
Sgt Gordon William Colyer, RAF
Sgt Harry Squire, RAF
The three other members of F/O Perrott's crew have no known grave:
Sgt William Webster Hilditch, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 153)
F/S Clifford James Whitelaw, RNZAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 199)
Sgt Charles Cyril Mould, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 160)
F/O William Rosser Perrott, RNZAF, and captain of the Stirling.
Sgt Gordon William Colyer, RAF
Sgt Harry Squire, RAF
The three other members of F/O Perrott's crew have no known grave:
Sgt William Webster Hilditch, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 153)
F/S Clifford James Whitelaw, RNZAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 199)
Sgt Charles Cyril Mould, RAF (Runnymede Memorial, panel 160)
BCL, Vol.V, 1943, p.209